Resident urges code enforcement action on dilapidated 209 Main Street building

At the July 8 meeting a nearby resident, addressed as Mister Thurston, asked the council to act on a one‑story red building adjacent to his property at 2 and 209 Main Street, describing a long pattern of neglect and potential fire hazards. He told councilors the water meter had been shut off, window sills and doors were damaged, gutters were missing, and “there’s years of debris on top of the roof,” adding he had previously sent a letter to the owner with no response.

Councilors and staff discussed legal options and next steps. The mayor and council noted the city’s building inspector is a contracted position and that condemnation or entry onto private property may require legal counsel and, in some cases, a court order. One council member recommended sending a certified letter to the owner and any lienholders and consulting the city attorney; another suggested consulting the county planning and zoning office for red‑tagging guidance. The resident asked primarily that the owner “come down and take care of his property and show some interest in it.”

The council directed staff to send a letter to the owner (including photographic evidence provided by city staff) and consult the city attorney about legal remedies and the potential cost and process of abatement if the city were to clean the property and attempt cost recovery. That next step will inform whether further action (condemnation or ordinance changes) is necessary.